Mbuji-Mayi: Facing extreme climate variations, experts recommend adapting daily habits

The city of Mbuji-Mayi, located in the Kasaï-Oriental province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently grappling with the harsh effects of extreme climate variations marking the end of the season. Residents are enduring stifling nights, unexpectedly cool mornings, and oppressive heat peaks during the day. This phenomenon, which intensifies annually, is significantly impacting the health of families.

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If we take the direct effects, you will have, for example, heatwaves that will easily increase heatstrokes which can lead to dehydration in many people, and even increase mortality among the elderly more than children. We must drink plenty of water and improve sanitation.

In response to the increasingly unpredictable climate, medical professionals, climatologists, and agronomists are urging the population to adjust their daily routines. Doctors note that the drastic temperature shifts make sleep difficult due to nighttime humidity, followed by sharp mercury fluctuations before dawn and into the morning. Professor Alphonse Kambi, a climatology specialist, explains these thermal disturbances as a result of abrupt seasonal transitions. He recommends adapting clothing throughout the day, suggesting lighter attire during heat peaks and warmer layers for the evening and morning to protect against sudden chills.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Sumba, who oversees diseases in the provincial health division, has issued a warning about the risks of dehydration. He highlighted that heatwaves can easily lead to heatstroke and dehydration, potentially increasing mortality rates among the elderly and children. "We must drink plenty of water and improve sanitation," he urged. Beyond regular hydration, nutrition plays a crucial protective role during this adaptation period. Agronomist Nico Ilunga advises modifying daily meals, recommending increased consumption of vegetables, which are rich in liquids, to help the body rehydrate.

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When it's so hot, sometimes we experience dehydration. We must consume vegetables especially, because there is an abundance of liquids, a way to recover liquids in the body.

As Mbuji-Mayi residents navigate nights filled with suffocating humidity and scorching days, adopting these simple preventive measures is presented as the primary defense for preserving their health against the escalating impacts of climate change. The advice focuses on practical, everyday adjustments to cope with the volatile weather.

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These thermal disturbances reflect the brutal transition of seasons. We recommend adapting clothing throughout the day: cover up lightly during heat peaks, but have warmer clothes ready for the evening and morning to protect the body against sudden chills.